Newark Airport gets new radar. Photo: Shutterstock Newark Liberty International Airport is getting a major technology upgrade as US transportation officials unveil a new Surface Movement Radar designed to improve the monitoring of aircraft and vehicles across the airport's runways and taxiways.
The Surface Movement Radar Model 4 (SMR-4) replaces Newark's 30-year-old radar system and is designed to allow air traffic controllers to track movements in all weather and visibility conditions . Newark is the fifth airport in the United States to receive the new radar technology.
The upgrade comes as authorities continue a broader modernization program at Newark, one of the busiest airports in the country. The airport handles more than 1,000 flights a day, making reliable air traffic control technology particularly important for maintaining safe and efficient operations.
US Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy said the radar installation is part of efforts to modernize Newark's infrastructure, while FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said the new system will help controllers keep flights safe at the major Northeast hub.
Over the next three years, Newark is expected to receive $30 million in infrastructure improvements. The radar installation is only one part of the airport's wider modernization program.
Newark has already replaced 90% of its copper wiring with high-speed fiber, improving communications infrastructure across the airport. The airport is also moving away from traditional paper flight strips and transitioning to electronic flight strips.
Further upgrades are planned by the end of summer 2027, including:
-Electronic information displays to improve controllers' situational awareness.
- New voice switches to improve communication between controllers, pilots and other air traffic facilities.
-New long-range radar to provide a more modern system for monitoring aircraft positions.
The upgrades are particularly significant following a difficult period for Newark. During summer 2025, the airport experienced major delays and operational challenges , prompting a series of measures aimed at improving reliability and reducing disruptions.
Those measures included software upgrades, accelerated fiber installation, runway construction completed ahead of schedule and adjustments to flight volumes to better match available air traffic controller staffing.
The latest radar installation represents another step in that modernization effort, with the new system providing controllers with improved visibility of movements on the ground.
The Newark project is also part of a wider effort to modernize air traffic control infrastructure across the United States.
According to the administration, nationwide upgrades over the past year have included replacing 60% of copper wiring, converting 363 radio sites, installing 96 Surface Awareness Initiative systems, moving 19 towers to electronic flight strips and installing 151 IP voice switches at control towers.
For passengers, many of these upgrades operate behind the scenes, but they can play an important role in keeping busy airports operating safely and efficiently.
At Newark, the combination of new radar, fiber communications and additional planned systems is intended to give controllers more reliable tools as the airport handles a high volume of daily traffic.